As we approach the final week of our training time in Libby, MT, with International Messengers, we are thinking a lot about endings. We’ve spent precious weeks learning, growing, and bonding with others who are involved with International Messengers, the many volunteers who have loved and cared for our kids, the people who have cooked for us, and the special people at Libby Baptist Church. As we ready ourselves to say goodbye, we’re reminded of the importance of finishing well—not just for the sake of completion but as a testament to the journey God has brought us through these last months.
It’s so easy to be caught up in the excitement about what is next or even the sadness of the more goodbyes that are coming at the end of the week. We really want to stay in the here and now, though, so we don’t miss what the Lord has for us each day until we leave on Saturday.
We have forged some pretty amazing friendships in these last months, the kind that will last the rest of our lives. We also grew to love another church family at Libby Baptist Church. They received us—and most importantly, our kids—from the first day. I was able to be part of the worship team each week and even led a worship night on our final evening there. The group of volunteers that worked with the kids each day while we were in class are yet another blessing, and they are people that our kids (and we) grew to love. They will be missed especially by the kids. It will be a hard transition for them when we leave and not see them each day. They are really special people.
Along with all of that, God has done some remarkable things in our lives spiritually. We have also seen some very significant healing in some emotional areas. We have grown closer to each other, and together we have grown closer to the Lord.
Saturday is going to come very quickly, and I’m not really ready to say goodbye. We are thankful for the many people who have encouraged us and prayed for us during these months and the time leading up to it. We are so blessed, and we don’t take it for granted.
We have lots of pictures to share when we are back in Moore (and have faster upload internet speeds).
As we prepare to close this chapter, we hold onto the promise found in Philippians 1:6, “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” May we carry the love and lessons learned here into every new beginning the Lord guides us to.